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Now, witnessing Coach’s reaction to the establishment, I couldn’t help but wonder about that day Dad answered me, and how Mom had smashed a plate in the background, claiming it was an accident. Maybe it was on purpose. Maybe she agreed with Coach.
It hurt to think that Dad possibly wasn’t the perfect father I had thought him to be. When around me, he seemed deeply endearing and proud. When he wasn’t around, I had Mom, a woman I held so high, I’m surprised her feet ever touched the ground.
Not another word was shared between Coach and me for the rest of the ride home. I just stared out the open window, appreciating the breeze from the rural area of the green hills of Austin. Dad wasn’t much for houses around his own, therefore we had no neighbors. I rather enjoyed the privacy, too. It gave me plenty of space to explore and climb trees.
Pulling up the long dirt driveway, it wasn’t a surprise that Mom, with my sister Everleigh on her hip, was already coming out the front door to greet me. What was surprising was how her eyes locked onto Coach’s. And how he was just as focused on her, while parking his cruiser, getting out as if in a trance, and quietly saying, “Hi, Charmain.” He coughed. “Uh, sorry to have come here, but, umm, no one came for him.”
As I got out of the car, Everleigh was kicking her legs and shouting, “Duuuke!” in Mom’s numb arms.
After blinking, Mom finally laughed, “Ev, calm down,” while bending over to set her down.
As soon as her little feet touched the ground, they clumsily sprinted to me. I set my backpack down, knowing the routine. I had yet to have the expected growth spurt, as a preteen, but I was plenty big enough to scoop up Everleigh as she demanded every time I got home.
With a tiny toddler clinging around my neck, I observed my mom. I couldn’t help but want to see her differently after what Coach had said. What is this ‘rarity’ he’d been talkin’ about? First, I observed her appearance, trying to see her with a fresh set of eyes.
Until walking under her favorite large tree in the front yard, the setting sun shined on her blonde hair, the color matching what I got from her. It was long, with a few waves. That made me inwardly smile, proudly, until Everleigh’s hair color entered my mind.
As she squealed in delight, still holding on to me like a chimpanzee, my fingers lifted strands of her jet-black hair. So slowly that it felt like time was standing still, I looked up to my mom, our humble home proudly standing behind her.
Wind started to rustle the limbs, full of leaves, and looming above. Then her mouth parted, and stunned green eyes watched me as my breathing changed.
Why?
Dad’s hair color was light brown. His eyes were grey, like mine. Like… Everleigh’s.
A rarity… I looked to Coach.
With surprise in his eyes, he quickly looked to the ground.
That damn day… How everything changed.
Swallowing in disbelief, I realized one of Mom’s rarities was her raising a child that was not her own. How I hadn’t put it together by this point showed my unwavering trust in my parents. One day, they told me I had a sister. I asked no questions. I didn’t even ponder about not remembering my mom being pregnant. I had been too young to give two-shits.
What woman Everleigh belonged to, I had no clue, but I instantly felt as if the little girl in my arms was now a complete stranger. That’s why I set the tiny toddler on the ground, then struggled to get free of her impressive grip.
Observing my action, Coach quietly said, “Uh, I should go.”
But Mom ignored him, eyes wide open, while saying, “Duke, please. That baby has no control over—”
“Who her father is?” I sneered, yanking Ev’s arms from me.
Besides being annoyed from time to time, like any big brother gets, I’d never denied my sister affection. Nor had I taken that tone with Mom before. She knew it by the shock in her now watering eyes.
Regret for my attitude slammed into me. “Sorry.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Coach nod, pleased I had apologized.
Watching Everleigh’s sad face, walking back to Mom, my throat tightened with emotions I didn’t understand. “Who’s her mom?”
Coach rubbed the back of his neck while looking away.
After picking up the sniffling toddler and resting the little head on her shoulder, Mom defiantly lifted her chin. “I am.” Holding her proud pose, she inhaled deeply. “But to answer your question, her biological mother,” Mom’s expression saddened as she shook her head, “wasn’t an option to raise this baby.” She leaned her forehead to Ev’s with adoration.
Instead of respecting Mom’s loyalty and willingness to give unconditionally to another’s child, I could only think of… “How did Dad have a baby with another woman when he’s married to you?”
Coach threw his hands in the air. “It is really time for me to go.” But, it was too late. As he turned to his marked vehicle, a familiar rumble started heading down the road.
A little gasp came from Everleigh as her head lifted in delight. “Daaaddy!”
